Boulder voicing some concern over new PUC appointee Glenn Vaad

Vaad voted against higher renewable energy requirements

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's appointment of a former Weld County state legislator with ties to a powerful conservative lobbying group to the Public Utilities Commission has raised concerns among advocates for renewable energy and with Boulder officials who hope the PUC will not stand in the way of the creation of a municipal energy utility.

Former state Rep. Glenn Vaad was appointed by Hickenlooper in December and sworn in last week, but he still needs to be confirmed by the state senate.

National and state organizations that advocate for more renewable energy have launched a campaign against Vaad. They point to his connections to ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative organization funded by the Koch brothers.

"The concern is that he may put the interests of these organizations in front of the interests of the people of Colorado," said Gabe Elsner, executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute, which monitors legislation related to renewable energy.

According to a report on ALEC's influence by Common Cause, Vaad received scholarships from ALEC in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and according to documents provided to the Center for Media and Democracy, Vadd received a "State Legislator of the Year" award from ALEC in 2012.

ALEC has drafted model legislation to repeal renewable energy requirements around the country.

Vaad voted for legislation in 2010 that requires coal-fired power plants to reduce their emissions but against legislation that requires utilities to increase their renewables portfolios to 30 percent.

Cowles labels Vaad 'climate change denier'

Eric Brown, a spokesman for the governor, said Hickenlooper was well aware of Vaad's political ties before he made the appointment

"We discussed his full record, including his commitment to HB1365 and to SB252, and found him to be a person of integrity and thoughtfulness," Brown said in an email. "His involvement with ALEC does not, by itself and without context, mean a person with his record of public service should be disqualified."

HB 1365 is the emissions reduction bill, while SB252 was a controversial bill passed last year, after Vaad left the legislature, that increased the renewable energy requirement for rural energy cooperatives.

State Sen. Rollie Heath, a Boulder Democrat, said he has received "literally hundreds" of calls and emails from constituents concerned about Vaad's appointment.

Boulder Councilman Macon Cowles called out the appointment in an email to the council's Hotline, where he called Vaad a "climate change denier."

Hearings on Vaad's appointment have not been scheduled yet, but Heath said he anticipates the confirmation will receive close attention.

"They raise a lot of questions, and I have a lot of questions that I would need to have answered," Heath said.

At the same time, Heath said he doesn't know what other options the governor had, and he "doesn't want to second guess" the choice of Vaad.

Hickenlooper had to appoint a Republican because the other two commissioners are Democrats.

PUC a strong influence on future of state's solar market

Many activists contacted for this article hesitated to say harsh words about Vaad when they would be testifying in front of him on future renewable energy, competition and utility rate issues.

Blake Jones, CEO of Boulder-based Namaste Solar, said he's not personally familiar with Vaad, but there is a lot of concern among the state's solar industry because of a pending docket with Xcel Energy in which the company seeks to change the way solar power is credited to homeowners.

"We would prefer someone who is more clean energy friendly," Jones said. "There is widespread concern in the industry. This issue is of critical importance to the future sustainability of Colorado's solar market, and the PUC is going to be a major influence for what happens."

Boulder also may need PUC approval to acquire electric infrastructure outside city limits as it moves to create a municipal energy utility. Boulder has appealed a PUC decision that orders them to get the commission's approval before moving forward with condemnation while simultaneously seeking information on what that process would involve.

Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum said he is worried about Vaad's position, but he's also hopeful Vaad will take a different tack as a member of the PUC than he did as a legislator.

"The right PUC commissioners could really create movement toward a much more sustainable energy future, or we could stay stuck in a rut and be one of the last states to let go of the last century's energy model," he said.

"They are certainly concerning," he said of Vaad's ties to ALEC. "How could they not be? But that doesn't have to define Vaad as an appointee. His role is quite different now."

A spokesman for the PUC said Vaad and the commission are referring all questions to the governor's office, pending Vaad's confirmation.

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